Leprosy in Sri Lanka: Epidemiological trends between 1985–2021

Abstract

Sri Lanka achieved the leprosy elimination goal set by the WHO in 1995. The success in achieving this goal was mainly due to an effective social marketing campaign carried out in the late nineteen-eighties by the Anti-Leprosy Campaign programme. However, the WHO now identifies the country as a high-burden country in the region. This paper aims to present the pattern and trends of leprosy in Sri Lanka from 1985 to 2021 and the characteristics associated with changes over time. From the trends we have observed, we believe that more awareness programmes (similar to the early social marketing campaign) and targeted active case-finding activities will help to interrupt transmission in the country.